Archaeoichthyological Research of Settlements of the Golden Horde Period of the Saratov Volga Region

Abstract

The article presents a study of fish remains from the Bagaevka settlement with the involvement of the results of identifications of fish remains from other settlements in the region of the Golden Horde city Ukek, functioning in the second half of the 13th – 14th century. The purpose of the work was a comprehensive analysis of the remains of fishes from the Bagaevka settlement, as a large Golden Horde rural settlement of Ukek region, including species, quantitative, dimensional and age composition of the fishes on the basis of the archaeoichthyological collection and interpretation of the obtained results taking into account archaeological data. The 19 species of fishes were determined from bone remains and scales, the main species of which were large-sized: Russian sturgeon, Beluga, Starred sturgeon, Catfish and Zander. The predominance of large-sized species indicates that fishing was carried out on the Volga. The identified dimensional-species composition of fishes (large species with a large body weight), as well as the discovered fishing equipment, directly indicate the presence of collective fishing of the inhabitants of the Bagaevka settlement. Cutting and processing of all incoming fish was carried out on the territory of the settlement. Fishing in this settlement, as well as throughout the Saratov Volga region, has already acquired the features of a specialized subsidiary farming.

Keywords

• archaeology
• fish remains
• comprehensive research
• golden horde
• lower volga region
• rural settlements